G-Lab BC-1 compressor... big thumbs up from me!

bongomania · #1 02-10-2012, 12:37 PM

Last year I was hipped to the Polish brand G-Lab by this post from a Canadian TB'er:

Quote:

Originally Posted by speyer

Eventually I gave up the Diamond for the best Comp I've ever used... the G-Lab! It sounds far more 'neutral' and is way more flexible than the Diamond. two channels, midi and lots of indicators...

Definately worth a listen for anyone out the looking for a great stomp comp!

At the time there were no US dealers, and I was hesitant to pay full price anyway; but I just recently managed to score a BC-1, and my review is now posted: G-Lab BC-1

Great googly-moogly I like this pedal! As I say in the review it's not a "magic tone" machine, but the sheer flexibility and utility of it is a whole new level of WIN.

Now I'm probably going to hunt down more G-Lab pedals, like their reverb.

cybersnyder · #2 02-10-2012, 01:01 PM

When Bongo gets excited about a pedal, there's something there.

Smurf-o-Deth · #3 02-10-2012, 01:08 PM

I still love my G Lab Bass Wowee wah above all others I've tried, and I've tried a lot.

caeman · #4 02-10-2012, 01:23 PM

Bongo, in the review you mention that it doesn't roll off highs and lows, but does it accentuate them compared to, say, the Rothwell's completely flat signal?

My name is Mudd · #5 02-10-2012, 01:30 PM

Who's dealing these?

bongomania · #6 02-10-2012, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caeman

Bongo, in the review you mention that it doesn't roll off highs and lows, but does it accentuate them compared to, say, the Rothwell's completely flat signal?

No, I'd describe it as similarly flat in a static sense, but noticeably "fuller sounding" in the lows during stronger compression. It's a tough thing to put into words because I think the difference is not in how they'd look under spectrum analysis, but how the compression reacts to different frequencies.

bongomania · #7 02-10-2012, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

Who's dealing these?

A couple of guys on Ebay, as far as I have seen. That's where I scored mine.

Fliptrique · #8 02-10-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Now I'm probably going to hunt down more G-Lab pedals, like their reverb.

If wah is your thing I highly recommend their woowee wah for bass - I have used it for about two years now and it works really good and seems to be really well built.

MSUsousaphone · #9 02-10-2012, 02:59 PM

On one hand this sounds insanely intriguing....on the other it sounds overwhelming. Like it's not a beginner's comp. More to ponder more to ponder. But I think I'll be pulling the trigger on something, soon. The Rothwell being the front runner before I read this thread.

HolmeBass · #10 02-10-2012, 04:05 PM

OT: At first I was like, "Man, that guy really loves compressors, has *three* on his board!"

Then I noticed it was Bongomania, lol.

/OT

The G-Lab doesn't look too difficult to dial in, unless I'm missing something- there seem to be only two knobs per compressor stage, right?

That sfx MicroComp looks "sechsy" to borrow a word from one fanatic who haunts this electronic playground... mmmeoww!

bongomania · #11 02-11-2012, 04:11 AM

The Glab isn't difficult to use, but what MSU is referring to is the switches hidden in the side panels, not visible in that photo.

From a beginner standpoint, the only switch that needs to be dealt with is the high/low input gain, which essentially is a very coarse threshold control. The "dump" LED will be the guideline for whether that switch should be set high or low; and my rule of thumb for finding a starting point with threshold is generally to have the LED flashing only about 50% of the time you're playing.

From there, it's a simple two-knob compressor. The "release" toggle is fine in either position, and all the other switching business is about channel selection, not about the compression.

That said, IMO the whole point of this pedal is the channel selection, so I'd only bother with it if you are excited about being able to quickly foot-switch between different amounts of compression, for different instruments or for going from fingerstyle to slap, etc. And the switches for that are not hard to figure out.

There's a little chart explaining all the settings printed on the underside of the pedal, too.

My name is Mudd · #12 02-11-2012, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

There's a little chart explaining all the settings printed on the underside of the pedal, too.

Which is handy...until you apply the velcro.

bongomania · #13 02-11-2012, 09:26 AM

Velcro - Clear Adhesive Backed Products

My name is Mudd · #14 02-11-2012, 09:38 AM

Well...there's me pwn'd. Is that new? I've never seen clear before.

MSUsousaphone · #15 02-11-2012, 11:29 AM

Yeah, that's a lot of features and the variety on it intimidates me. Kinda like your first time being with three chicks at once....not that the compressor can laugh at you and go tell all its other compressor friends how you kept checking Bongo's super secret love moves blog during the playing session to figure things out.....

caeman · #16 02-11-2012, 02:48 PM

Bongosutra?

Feral Feline · #17 02-12-2012, 10:32 AM

Bongo! I'm really Glab, uh, glad you like the BC-1, but this is the first I've seen of the SFX MicroComp. How 'bout a "front-and-center" shot of that!

Meowww indeed!
Cheers,
FF

[Tweety-bird] I tawt I taw a micwo-comwessoh! [/tweety-bird]

[Sylvester] Thufferin thuckotash, thaahhhts one schecschy look'n' comprethor! [/Sylvestor]

[Tweety-bird] I did! I did taw a wittle-bitty micwo-compwessoh! [/Tweety-bird]

speyer · #18 01-16-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Last year I was hipped to the Polish brand G-Lab by this post from a Canadian TB'er:

At the time there were no US dealers, and I was hesitant to pay full price anyway; but I just recently managed to score a BC-1, and my review is now posted: G-Lab BC-1

Great googly-moogly I like this pedal! As I say in the review it's not a "magic tone" machine, but the sheer flexibility and utility of it is a whole new level of WIN.

Now I'm probably going to hunt down more G-Lab pedals, like their reverb.

Hey Bongo! Still enjoying your G-lab? I sure am... I have also been using the Dual-Reverb for a year or so now. Again, by far the best reverb I have ever used. G-lab has a very unique product line.. Uber high quality in every respect and just fantastic sounding analog effects. Very nice stuff!

fasto · #19 01-17-2013, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

I still love my G Lab Bass Wowee wah above all others I've tried, and I've tried a lot.

yes, i agree ... very good wahwah, but ugly design (but who cares).

Crabby · #20 01-18-2013, 08:46 PM

I haven't tried the G-Lab comp but have their chorus and it is just superb on bass. It also has dual channels so you can have a subtle setting and then something more intense. There is no loss of low end or volume. It's just a sweet pedal in every way. It replaced my Diamond Halo which I had thout was one of the best on bass. I have a friend who uses the G-Lab delay and just rag about it. As far as I know, thee is only one dealer in Western Canada at the moment.